...an award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics-from today and yesterday:all 32 Counties !Updated a number of times each week . (Mirror site here)

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"1169 And Counting is a wealth of information on our Republican past and present , and demonstrates how the Irish political landscape , like that of any nation, will never be a black and white issue..."

IRISH BLOG AWARDS 2017 - ooops! It seems that our entry application was "not completed in time to be considered.." (?) and, as such, we are not now in the running. But we wish all the best to the successful entrants and to the organisers, and we hope all goes well for them on the day!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Going back to at least the early 1970’s , the Republican Movement, and supportive and affiliated organisations , have come together each year to choose a handful of individuals who are deemed suitable emissaries to represent all that Irish Republicanism stands for and that which it seeks to obtain. Having decided on the best honorees possible , a Dinner , Dance and Reunion is held to properly convey the Movement’s appreciation to those people. And that pleasurable task has been undertaken this year , too -On Saturday May 16th 2009 , seven Irish Republicans will be honoured at a function to be held for them in Dublin , in the Morrison Hotel on Ormond Quay, at which a Presentation will be made to each one of them. Those seven notable Stalwarts of Irish Republicanism are : Peig and Paddy King(chosen by Republicans in Leinster), Pádraig Ó Baoighill (Ulster) , Frank Quinn (Connacht) , Liam Cotter (Munster) , Don Hurley (USA) and Michael Kennedy(Galway and London) .This blog extends warmest ‘Congrats!’ to those Honorees , and we hope to have a representative present on the night to record proceedings. Well Done to ye all - Ni Seoinini Sinn Go Leir !(Last year’s CABHAIR Testimonial Dinner can be viewed here.)Thanks!Sharon.

IRA : " No . But these negotiations are causing a lot of anxiety although by the time this interview appears in print there might be some conclusion to those negotiations .

It is for the men in the H-Blocks and their comrades in Armagh Prison to decide . It's not even up to us to decide. They are the sole negotiating body . They are undoubtedly political prisoners . In February and March this year we privately decided to suspend attacks on prison warders but the beatings meted out by them to the republican prisoners continued .

It wasn't until June this year after prisoners had been continually beaten , after there was no progress in O Fiaich's 'initiative' that we decided to resume those attacks . Since June there has only been one IRA attack on the warders but we have said it is open season on them again . We want the H-Blocks settled , we don't want to see warders killed. The H-Blocks are of no propaganda purpose to us. Our people in the jails are suffering real deprivations and we want that resolved." [END of 'THE IRA'](Next : 'DUBLIN 1980 - THE GLUE SNIFFERS')

Sitting in his chair below the 'Death or Victory' IRA poster , Tom Fleming lit another cigarette and leaned a little closer to the electric heater . " If the SDLP can maintain things even at the present level and keep on promising - that, plus the Catholic Church's attitude to (P) Sinn Fein and it's support (*) for the IRA - they can hoodwink a lot of people." ('1169...' Comment * - "support" then, condemnation now for those in Ireland who militarily challenge the British political and military presence!)

I stopped three people on a midweek morning to ask the way to Seamus Mallon's Newry office and all three were from Dublin , up doing their shopping! In his office , the new SDLP MP's two staff - young and paid - had brought in those elected to speak for the party : local councillor Tommy McGrath and Frank Feely, elected to the defunct 'Assembly' .

We were straight into the question of "I" voters , at least 800 of them in Newry town , they said , at least twice that number in the local government area , and every one of them annoyed for years because they could vote in Westminster elections but could not vote for their local council ! Guess who they'd vote for once the Anglo-Irish Agreement (Hillsborough Treaty) finally did the right thing by them.......?(MORE LATER).

A BATTLE FOR HEARTS AND MINDS.......A look at issues raised by Liz Curtis' recent book. From 'IRIS' magazine, August 1984.Review by Trisha Fox.

While a handful of TV producers such as Colin Thomas- who resigned from the BBC in protest at cuts made to his 1978 documentary about daily life in Derry - have taken a protest stance , most consciously choose to work within the system and to get their material transmitted , while acknowledging the limitations of their practice.

'Acceptable Levels', a recent film made for Channel 4 , dealt with this issue of 'self-censorship' by TV producers . The film's storyline is about a crew making a liberal documentary about the effects of 'the troubles' on children from both communities . Towards the end of the crew's film-shooting , a nationalist child gets shot with a plastic bullet and the crew are thrown into a dilemma as to whether they should incorporate this material into the final film , which would change the original (and pre-conceived) concept of the documentary . Inevitably , they decide to omit it .(MORE LATER).

Sunday, May 10, 2009

RSF Dublin Rally in commemoration of the 22 Irish Hunger-Strikers and in support of present-day POW's , Saturday 9th May 2009.

A two-hour Rally was held on Saturday May 9 , 2009 , in Dublin , by Republican Sinn Féin members and supporters . The aim of the Rally was two-fold - to commemorate the twenty-two Irish Republicans who died on hunger-strike for Irish freedom between the years 1917 and 1981 and to remind all concerned that Irish Republican prisoners are still fighting to obtain full political status. About thirty people took part in the Rally , some of whom, with others , held banners and placards and helped to distribute leaflets to the many thousands of people in the area. As usual , the State political police - the 'Special Branch' - practically tried to close-down the event , such was the manner in which at least nine of them attempted to discourage members of the public from approaching those holding the Rally. Their intimidation failed , however, (as is always the case!) and those thousands of people - Irish and foreign tourists - who were in the area over that two-hour period were reminded of the sacrifices made and the sacrifices that continue to be made by incaracated Republican POW's.A full report and more pictures will be published in the June 2009 issue of 'Saoirse' , which will be available from Wednesday June 3rd '09.Thanks!Sharon.